Acquiring Johnson was not as easy of a decision, though. The 28-year-old was five years removed from his last productive season and the Sounders had to trade Lamar Neagle and Mike Fucito to the Montreal Impact to get him. That deal was perceived as one-sided at the time, favoring the expansion Impact.

It took a few months for him to find his stride, but once he did, he was among the top strikers in MLS. Johnson earned a spot on the Mls All-Star team and even scored the game-winner against Chelsea.

He also made a triumphant return to the US national team in a pair of World Cup qualifiers, scoring the winner against Antigua and Barbuda and picking up an assist against Guatemala.